INTER

VIE

W S

KILLS

: PR

AC

TIS

E

MA

KES

PER

FEC

T!

Click icon to add picture

Course Tutor: - Giselle RuossCourse Assistant – Frances Saggers

THE ICE BREAKER In groups of 4 work out four questions you would want

to ask a candidate if you were the interviewer. What did you want to find out about the candidate by

asking each question? This task should take 10 minutes.

Day 4: Interview Techniques Preparing for interviews The interview experience Questions to expect and to ask Different types of interview Assessment Centres Psychometric Tests Mock interview (role-play)

Purpose of the interview

Interview = A meeting with an objective

Employer’s objective is to find the best person for the job › Employer: reviews candidate’s experience and abilities

Can you do the job? (skills, abilities, qualifications) Will you do the job? (interest, attitude & motivation) How will you fit into the organisation? (personality)

You: impress employer and assess position on offer What does this position offer me? How does it fit with my career plans?

Congratulations - you have passed the first hurdle

You must prove that you are the most suitable candidate for this position

Preparation is the key to successReview own skills, experiences and qualities

Check CV Anticipate questions and identify relevant examples Prepare key selling points

› Research organisation Websites, reports, articles, company literature, etc.. Contacts with knowledge of organisation or sector Relevant articles in the press Personal visit or telephone call

› Research job and occupational area Job description – or similar Current issues

› Prepare your questions

› Practice

Body language First impressions very powerful Allow time to relax Dress appropriately Entrance, introductions & handshake Smile and make eye contact Be aware of own movements Watch body language of interviewer

Responding to Competency Questions Q Give me an example of a problem you encountered. How did you

approach it. What was the outcome?

STAR response› S: Describe the situation› T: Explain the task/problem that arose› A: What action did you take?› R: What was the result or outcome?› What did you learn from this experience?

Typical Interview Questions About you

› Tell me about yourself - Bring me up to date with your CV?› Why did you choose this particular area of work?› What experience have you had that is relevant to this post?› What would you consider your major achievements to date?

About the job› What interests you about this job?› What do you know about this organisation?› What other options are you considering?› How do you see your career developing – 5 years?› If you were Head of Department, what would be your priorities?

General knowledge› What do you think of the Government’s policy on college fees?› What’s your opinion of … (a topical subject relating to the company or current

affairs).

Other types of questions “What if” Questions

› No experience - how are you likely to respond to a situation

Probing Questions› How exactly did you deal with the situation?› How did you know it worked?› How did you feel about the outcome?› Could you have handled it differently?

Competency Based Questions

Company identifies key skills required for job

Designs questions to elicit evidence of skills

Emphasis on past behaviour as predictor of success

Teamwork: Describe a team project you worked on. What problems arose? How did you deal with them?

Communication Skills: Describe situation when you had to persuade others to support your view. Give an example of any reports you’ve written which illustrate your writing skills

Interpersonal skills: What kinds of people do you find it difficult to work with? How do you handle those situations?

Taking Responsibility: Describe a time when you took responsibility to achieve a challenging goal

Problem-solving: Tell me about a time when you had several tasks to manage at one time with conflicting deadlines.

Preparing for competency based interviews

Identify the competencies required for job› Review job description or ask for information

Define each competency in behavioural terms Identify past experience to illustrate how you demonstrated

that behaviour Prepare examples for each competency Practice talking about your experience Try to give a complete answer - STAR

Task 2: It is NOT enough to say you can do something – you need to show it too!

CommunicationTeam workLeadershipWorking on your own initiativeI.T skillsCustomer careCommercial awareness

Give examples to demonstrate these skills:

Answering competency based questions Q1 Give me an example of a problem you encountered. How did

you approach it. What was the outcome?

STAR response› S: Describe the situation› T: Explain the task/problem that arose› A: What action did you take?› R: What was the result or outcome?› What did you learn from this experience?

Qualities Employers look for

Good all-round intelligence Enthusiasm, commitment and motivation Good communication skills Team work ability Ability to solve problems Capacity to work hard Initiative and self-reliance

Competencies that a company looks for Adaptability Integrity Innovation Teamwork Initiative Drive for Results Know the Business Open Exchange of Information Makes Difficult Decisions

What questions should you ask in an interview?

Training programmes Career development opportunities Types of projects & responsibilities Reporting structure Performance appraisal Profile of staff Questions about topics raised in interview What happens next?

What creates a bad impression in an interview Poor personal appearance Negative attitude – evasive, using excuses Lack of interest and enthusiasm Lack of preparation Poor knowledge of role Failure to give concrete examples of skills Over emphasis on money/rewards Lack of career plan

What happens after an interview?

Review own performancewhat went wellwhat went badlywhat you wished you had saidprepare for next stage

Invitation to second / final round interviewsassessment centre psychometric testingpanel interview

Rejection letter / emailif you can request feedback - use it

Telephone Interviews Prepare as thoroughly as for ‘real’ interview Select comfortable, private, quiet place Advise other people how to answer the phone if you are at home Have copy of CV and company information Have pen and paper at hand Prepare for usual interview questions Practice on phone

› Record answers› Try standing up and sitting down to see how you are most comfortable talking. › Smile and use gestures› Avoid monotones

Be yourself

Other types of interviews Rotating

› Like one-to-one with different interviewers Group

› 6-8 candidates› Group observed while discussing topic› Be aware of group interaction

Panel› 2-5 interviewers, or as many as 13!!› Try to identify different roles› Respond to interviewer, include others through eye contact› May involve presentation

Assessment Centres Company premises or neutral venue Includes social or informal events Meeting with recent candidates or managers Activities include:

› Group exercises› Practical tasks and exercises› Report writing› Oral Presentations› Psychometric assessments› Interviews

Simulates real work environment

Psychometric Testing Aptitude Tests - measure skills relevant to position

› Verbal comprehension - evaluate logic of text› Numerical reasoning - interpret statistical data› Diagrammatic reasoning - recognise patterns› Watch timing – complete as many as possible

Personality Questionnaires› Look at personality style› No right or wrong answers› Be spontaneous, don’t try to second-guess› Tests include built-in checks› Employers may be looking for different personality profiles

Task: Interview role play

Person 1: IntervieweeRole: Answer questions asked by

Person 2: InterviewerRole: Ask questions to interviewee

Person 3: ObserverRole: Watch role-play and make notes

After 5 minutes swap roles then repeat twice